New Delhi, Jan 26: To ensure smooth conduct of 69th Republic Day parade, movement of traffic on certain roads leading to the route of the grand event has been restricted. The Delhi police has also issued a traffic advisory guiding residents on the routes to be followed and avoided on Friday. The police has also warned the public to be […]

New Delhi, Dec 6:Air Quality in Delhi further turned severe with a sharp rise in the particulate matter. Delhiites woke up to find a thick blanket of smog on Wednesday morning. At least 20 trains delayed, 5 rescheduled and 10 cancelled due to poor visibility in the national capital. The concentration of the most prominent pollutants, PM 2.5 and PM 10, dipped to severe category, respectively in Lodhi Road area in Delhi, ANI reported.

This has come two days after five Sri Lankan cricketers took to the Ferozeshah Kotla cricket ground wearing anti-pollution masks. The level of pollutants reached as high as 276 and 455 micrograms per cubic metre on Monday, the Central Control Room for Air Quality Management of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported. Taking note of the air quality in Delhi, the BCCI said scheduling of matches in Delhi will be “considered”. (Also Read: Cyclone Ockhi May Clear Smog, Air Pollution in Delhi)

On Tuesday, the Delhi air quality, which has remained in the ‘very poor’ category since November 23, dropped to ‘severe’ category with the CPCB recording 378 on the air quality index. On Monday, it was 390. Ghaziabad and Agra in Uttar Pradesh recorded the most severe air quality. Ghaziabad recorded air quality index of 467.

“Where is your action plan? Why have you not submitted it? What can we do if you keep on changing everybody? It’s not our problem if people don’t want to stick to you,” the bench said, adding, “You keep on doing meetings but tell us a single action or step you have taken in the last four days to combat air pollution.”

To which, the Delhi government said that it needs more time as the chief secretary and environment secretary have been recently changed. The NGT has ordered the Delhi government to file an action plan in next 48 hours.